1. Langtang Valley and Gosaikunda Lake
Duration of trek: 14 days
Maximum height: 5, 145 m / 16879.92 ft
Starting / ending point: Syabrubesi / Dhunche
Difficulty: Challenging
Trek accommodation style: Teahouses
Best season: Autumn and Spring
Langtang Gosaikunda trek route in Nepal is a dream trek route, mostly to those who want to explore mid-hills and high altitude lakes. This trek route is amazingly beautiful. It is a 12 day trek walking through beautiful forests, alongside rivers with amazing views of mountains and lakes.
Langtang valley, Gosaikunda trek is also known as the Langtang Circuit Trek. Langtang Gosaikunda trek is one of the most accessible treks in Nepal which combines the remote and spectacular valley of Langtang, with the high mountains, glaciers, and lakes at Gosaikunda. Langtang valley trekking is full of wonder due to fascinating local history, culture and lifestyle, glaciers and mountains, and flora and fauna at Langtang National Park.
Gosaikunda lake, the major highlight of the trip is holy for both Hindus and Buddhists alike. There is also a cheese factory at Chandanbari (Singompa) that is open for visitors for tours and tastings. Shiva Mandir (temple) in front of the lake is open only once a year on the day of janai purnima, when thousands of pilgrims from Nepal and India visit.
Bhairab Kunda just below Gosaikunda is equally beautiful. As the walk towards Gosaikunda gets closer, a breathtaking waterfall appears that falls from Gosaikunda to Bhairab kunda.
There are multiple peaks that can be summited on this trek, two famous ones are Surya Peak (5,145m / 16879.92ft) and Kenji Ri Peak (4,773m / 15659.45ft), The views from the top of both peaks is stunning and makes the climb worth it.
The smiles and hospitality of people along the trail is always an added gift for all trekkers to experience. Walking along the Langtang Gosaikunda trail, we will be witnessing beautiful Tamang villages and amazing natural sceneries including forests, rivers, waterfalls, streams, Himalayas, and several lakes.
2. Everest Base Camp
Duration of trek: 14days
Maximum height: 5,364 m / 17,598 ft
Starting / ending point: Lukla / Lukla
Difficulty: Challenging
Trek accommodation style: Teahouses
Best season: Autumn and spring
Everest base camps refers generally to two base camps on opposite sides of Mount Everest: South Base Camp is in Nepal at an altitude of 5,364 meters (17,598 ft), while North Base Camp is in Tibet, China at 5,150 meters (16,900 ft).
Hiking on the legendary foothills just below the mighty Everest with breathtaking views of the master peaks can only be found in the Everest Region. This famous trek is known worldwide for its trailblazing routes and incredible landscapes.
On this trip, you can also see the famous Kala Patthar (5,600m/18,373ft) a great viewpoint for some grand upfront views of the highest mountain in the world. Everest Base Camp Trek also includes other famous peaks like Mt Lhotse (8,516m /27,940ft), Makalu (8,485m /27,838 ft) & the giant Cho-Oyu (8,201m /26,906ft).
The typical EBC trek starts with a flight from Kathmandu to Tenzing - Hillary Airport (9,334ft / 2,845m) at the small town of Lukla. What follows is a trek through the Khumbu region with beautiful smiles and warm welcomes, walking along the tree line with views of snow-capped mountains, crossing long and high suspension bridges, experiencing Buddhism and unique Sherpa tradition with museums along the way. You’ll enjoy talks with other travelers with the warmth of the fire at your lodge each night, meeting locals leading caravans of yaks, which makes the trip most memorable.
All of us will not be able to stand on top of the highest mountain but most of us can definitely reach the base camp of Mount Everest and watch it’s majestic beauty along the way. Sagarmatha National Park reveals its own unique beauty which is home for thousands of flora and fauna.
3. Manaslu Circuit Trek
- Duration of trek: 13days
- Maximum height: 5,106 m / 16,752 ft
- Starting point: Soti Khola / BesisahaR
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Trek accommodation style: Teahouses
- Best season: Autumn and spring
Despite its recent rise in popularity, the Manaslu Trek remains remote and off-the-beaten-path compared to the better-known teahouse treks in Nepal. The trek takes you around Manaslu, the world's eighth highest mountain at 8,163 meters (26,781 ft). Many would argue that the Manaslu Circuit trail is the best general trek in the country, with colorful cultures and dramatic valleys against a backdrop of classic Himalayan peaks.
Trails go through steamy lowland with a terrace of rice and millet, through the mighty gorges of the Budi Gandaki with its turquoise waters and amazing waterfalls. Suspension bridges in Manaslu are in a league of their own for both length and height.
After you left the pass comes the stunning view of a great glacial cirque. A stupendous wall created by Cheo Himal, Himlung Himal, Nemjung, Gyaji Kang and Kang Guru, casts down a stream of glaciers, while Annapurna II rises ahead.
Warm hospitality and the smiles of locals along the trail with breathtaking views make trekking very exciting.
Buddhism is practiced here, beautiful Buddhist temples, architecture, and amazing tradition will be visible along the trail.
4. Upper Mustang
- Duration of trek: 12 days
- Maximum height: 3810 m / 12,500 ft
- Starting point: Jomsom/Jomsom
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trek accommodation style: Teahouses
- Best season: Autumn and spring
Upper Mustang is a remote and isolated region of the Nepalese Himalayas. The Upper Mustang was a restricted demilitarized area until 1992 which makes it one of the most preserved regions in the world, with a majority of the population still speaking traditional Tibetic languages.
The Upper Mustang trek winds its way through the hidden Buddhist world of the Kingdom of Mustang, also known as Lo. This remote trans-Himalayan mountain area borders Tibet and has a distinct Tibetan feel to it, both in its people and culture and in its arid landscape of high cliffs and rocks of unusual formations, colors and cold desert.
Explore caves, rock paintings, monasteries, and gompa and learn something about the culture of this area. Panoramic views of Nilgiri, Annapurna, Dhaulagiri, and others, are a huge part of this exciting trip!
The trek is relatively high in altitude (3,000m to 3,800m), which is somehow intensified by the dry air. But this trek into the restricted area of Upper Mustang, which in part follows the ancient salt route, is something that will remain in one’s memory forever.
5. Gokyo Valley Trek
- Duration of trek: 12 days
- Maximum height: 5357 m / 17,575 ft
- Starting point: Lukla/Lukla
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Trek accommodation style: teahouses
- Best season: Autumn and spring
Gokyo is a small village in Solukhumbu District in the Himalayas of Nepal, at the foot of Gokyo Ri and located on the eastern shore of the third Gokyo Lake, Dudh Pokhari. Gokyo Cho (Dudh Pokhari), which is sacred for both Hindus and Buddhists. The village is located at an elevation of 4,750 meters (15,580 ft),[1] making it one of the highest settlements in Nepal and in the world.
Instead of traveling to the more commercial Everest Trek, trekkers often choose this itinerary to enjoy the less crowded trails. It is an excellent choice for both experienced trekkers as well as novice travelers. The route to the Gokyo Lakes is less busy but still affords the trekker with an insight into local village life, impressive views of icy rivers and stony, glacier debris, snow-capped mountains, and of course the dazzling turquoise waters of Gokyo Lakes themselves.
One can trek to Gokyo valley and also have the option to submit to the Gokyo Ri peak which is 5,357m / 17,575ft above the sea level. The summit of Gokyo Ri offers panoramic mountain views, including four 8,000m peaks — Mt. Everest, Lhotse, Cho Oyu, and Makalu. Many argue the view from the top of this vantage point is far better than that from the famous Kala Patthar.
Gokyo Ri Trek begins with a scenic flight from Kathmandu to Lukla, one of the most extreme airports in the world. The trail traverses through famous Sherpa villages like Phakding, Namche, and Dole, all the way up to Gokyo Valley with warm hospitality and beautiful service and smiles of locals along the way.
6. Mardi Himal Trek
- Duration of trek: 5 days
- Maximum height: 4,500m / 14763.78ft
- Starting point:
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trek accommodation style: Teahouses
- Best season: Autumn and spring
Mardi Himal trek is one of the most beautiful and famous treks in Nepal. Mardi Himal Trek starts from one of the beautiful cities, Pokhara. Stay at Pokhara keeps trekkers at ease as it gives time to relax, get trekking gears if more is needed and may be a chance to hear conversation with those who have already been to Mardi Himal, as most trekkers end their journey at Pokhara and rest and relax there for couple of days before they start travelling again. In 2012, the Mardi Himal Trek was opened, following a ridge towards the summit, with lodges and tea houses open to an elevation of 3,550m,[2] with a further climb to "Base Camp" at 4,500m.[3] The peak itself is classified by the Nepalese government as a "trekking peak" and is offered by many expedition companies.
The trail is a walk across the chain of green hills, with a view of the snow-capped mountains of Annapurna Range. The scenic natural beauty is immensely scattered throughout the region. Walking past the traditional Gurung villages and witnessing Buddhist culture is truly blissful. The warm hospitality of locals at villages like Kande, Pothana, Siding, Deurali, etc is remarkable.
7. Lower Dolpo and Shey Phoksundo Lake:
- Duration of trek:
- Maximum height: 5318m / 17447.51ft
- Starting point:
- Difficulty: Moderate / Strenuous
- Trek accommodation style: Camping
- Best season: Autumn and spring
Lower Dolpo Trek is the most isolated trek in Nepal; this trek is the fewest tourist visiting trail. Lower Dolpo is in the midwestern part of Nepal. The trek crosses over three high passes, Kangmara La (5,115m), Numa La (5,159m), and Baga La at (5,190m). The trek will take us through protected areas and leads us to the amazing ‘Phoksundo Lake’ surrounded by attractive flora and fauna. Beautiful lake that actually looks like the shape of the Lungs of a human being, hence the name derived from "phokso'' which means lungs in Nepali.
Surprise fact: This lake has an outlet for the water to get out and flow down south through the mountains, however beside the section that flows through the outlet, the lake flows upwards north in an opposite direction which is really surprising. The wind pushes the lake towards the opposite direction.
The daily lifestyles are very difficult in this area because of the parched region but the people are very friendly and humble with faces that know how to smile. Camping in front of the lake takes the experience and adventure to Phey Phoksundo to the next level of thrill.
Shey Phoksundo is an alpine freshwater oligotrophic lake at Shey Phoksundo National Park, located at an elevation of 3,611.5 m (11,849 ft) at Dolpa district. Shey Phoksundo is the deepest lake in Nepal, 145 meters. Dolpo is a habitat for rare animals of the world like blue sheep and snow leopard.
There are stupas and Gomba where annual rituals and prayers are carried out. Buddhism and the Bon religion are prevalent in lower Dolpo.
8. Annapurna Circuit Trek
- Duration of trek: 12days
- Maximum height: 5,416 m / 17,769 ft
- Starting point: Bhulbhule/Jomsom
- Difficulty: Challenging
- Trek accommodation style: Teahouses
- Best season: Autumn and spring
The Annapurna Circuit is a trek within the mountain range of central Nepal. The total length of the route varies between 160–230 km (100-145 mi), depending on type of transportation and where one starts or finishes the trek.
Annapurna Circuit trek is full of tall and beautiful waterfalls, crossing two different river valleys and encircling the Annapurna Massif.The path reaches its highest point at Thorung La pass (5416m/17769 ft), touching the edge of the Tibetan plateau. The mountain scenery, seen at close quarters includes the Annapurna Massif (Annapurna I-IV), Dhaulagiri, Machhapuchhre, Manaslu, Gangapurna, Tilicho Peak, Pisang Peak, and Paungda Danda. Numerous other peaks of 6000-8000m in elevation rise from the Annapurna range.
Since the trail opened in 1977, most trekkers have followed an Annapurna Circuit itinerary that begins in Besishahar and heads in a counter clockwise direction over the Thorong-La Pass and down into the Jomsom Valley.The main reason for this is acclimatisation. When following the trail counter clockwise, you have almost 2 whole weeks of acclimatisation (and leg-training!) before you begin the leg-and-lung-breaking final ascent up and over Thorong La (5416m).Going the other way, you’d only have 2 days to acclimatise, as well as tackling some intense 1700m+ incline days along steep, rubbly paths straight up.
9. Rara Lake
- Duration of trek: 4 - 10 days
- Maximum height: 2,990 m / 9,810 ft
- Starting point: Jumla
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trek accommodation style: Teahouse
- Best season: Autumn and Spring
Rara Lake: The Lake (also called Mahendra Daha) is located in Karnali Zone, Jumla and Mugu District and is the biggest lake in Nepal with a length of 8 km, breadth of 1.5 km and depth of 167 m. It lies about 3200m above sea level with a total area of 10.4 square kilometres (4.0 sq mi).
Rara lake is situated in Rara National Park, the smallest national park in the country, established to protect unique flora and fauna of the Humla - Jumla region.
The panoramic view of Kanjirowa mountain range, Humla, Jumla and even Dolpa makes the trek worth it and as the final destination (Rara Lake) gets closer from far far across, a magnificent shimmering oasis, Rara lake can be spotted.
Camping at lake side and watching the clear starry sky, eating delicious Neplai food, seeing sunrise and sunset, getting close into nature, connecting with locals and other trekkers and having times of solitude all while taking in the views around Rara lake, this is all calling us to come.
10. Trek Around Kathmandu Valley
- Duration of trek: varies
- Maximum height: 4600 feet
- Starting point: varies
- Difficulty: east
- Trek accommodation style: Five14 Bed and Breakfast
- Best season: Anytime
Kathmandu Valley is surrounded by the beautiful Mahabharat range which has dense forest. Highest elevation of this range is Phulchoki Hill which is 2791m / 9156 ft and 824ft above sea level.
Trails around Kathmandu valley go through these hills and offer a 360 degree view of Kathmandu valley. It suits those who are time-bound. Some day treks include Chandragiri trek, Champa Devi hike, Nagarjun-Jamacho hike, and others.
As Kathmandu valley is moving very fast toward globalisation, this trek gives a picture of countryside local settlements with a variety of culture around the valley.
11. Pikey Peak Trek
- Duration of trek: 5 - 8 days
- Maximum height: 4,065 m / 12,295 ft
- Starting point:
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Trek accommodation style: Tea Houses and lodges
- Best season: Autumn and Spring
This is one of the recently launched and less explored trekking routes of Nepal. One of the best short treks of Nepal, Pikey peak trek offers the best of Sherpa culture and the Himalayan scenery, magnificent view of Mount Everest, Dhaulagiri, Kanchenjunga, Makalu and the lower Khumbu region.
Furthermore, the trail passes through off beaten trails with various remote Sherpa villages and old monasteries.
Sir Edmund Hilary, the first climber to reach the summit of Mount Everest, has agreed that the view of Mt Everest from Pikey peak is better than any other lower elevation viewpoints of Everest region. The trek also passes through cascading waterfalls, terraces and pristine, Buddhist and Sherpa villages with prayer flags waving in the wind.